IfNotNow

IfNotNow is an American Jewish group which opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its membership demonstrates against politicians, United States policies, and institutions it perceives as supporting occupation, usually seeking to apply pressure through direct action and media appearances. It has been characterized variously as progressive or far-left.
Founding
IfNotNow's first public action, then under the name "If Not Now, When?" was in July 2014 to protest the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations's support for Israel during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. Activists recited the Jewish prayer of mourning, the Mourner's Kaddish, for all Palestinian and Israeli victims of the war outside the Conferences' office.
The name IfNotNow is derived from a saying by the 1st century Jewish sage Hillel the Elder: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?"
The organization has been variously characterized as progressive or far-left.
Strategy
IfNotNow opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
IfNotNow is a movement-based organization, designed to appeal directly to the public through social media and direct action; their refusal to participate in closed-door meetings has been criticized by leaders of established Jewish institutions. The IfNotNow movement consists of Jewish Americans, typically millennials, who demonstrate against politicians, U.S. government policies, and Jewish institutions perceived to support the occupation, primarily through direct action and media appearances.
As part of the broader #JewishResistance coalition, IfNotNow has sought to highlight similarities and ties between the Trump administration and the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
IfNotNow campaigns against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). IfNotNow describes AIPAC as having supported 109 "insurrectionist Republicans" and supported "rightwing antisemites."
Activity
In 2017, Members of IfNotNow were arrested for interrupting U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman's Senate confirmation hearing, blowing a shofar and criticizing his support and funding of settlements in the West Bank.
In August 2022, the AIPAC tweeted that "George Soros has a long history of backing anti-Israel groups...Now he's giving $1 million to help @jstreetdotorg support anti-Israel candidates and attack pro-Israel Democrats. AIPAC works to strengthen pro-Israel mainstream Democrats. J Street & Soros work to undermine them." In response to the tweet, IfNotNow denounced AIPAC for antisemitism, tweeting that "AIPAC is the antisemitic far right...They are not a Jewish org, nor claim to be one."
IfNotNow, along with Jewish Voice for Peace, led an October 16, 2023 rally in Washington, D.C. which called for a ceasefire in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War and for United States President Joseph Biden to support a ceasefire. Among the speakers was actor Wallace Shawn.
References
External links
Official website
Jewish anti-occupation groups
Jewish-American political organizations
Non-governmental organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Political organizations based in the United States
Progressive organizations in the United States